Reflex camera synchronization



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L. D. NADEL 2,365,899

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REFLEX CAMERA SYNCHRONIZATION Filed April 16, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 llllillllllllllllovtil lllltlltldl)lllllaiialldllliilt 0! I 0 III a I!!! it 4 I I Patented Dec. 26, 1944 Louis D. Nadel, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

338,073, May 20, 1940. This application April 1.6, 1943, Serial No. 483,267

(Ci. 67-29) v 18- Claims.

This application is a continuing application disclosing all of the subject-matter of my copending original application Ser. No. 336,073,

filed May 20, 1940, now abandoned, entitled 'Reflex camera synchronization, this application being a complete duplicate of the said original application, and therefore constituting a substitute application therefor.

This invention relates to new and improved means for synchronizing photoflash bulbs with reflecting cameras having movable mirrors.

Important objects of my invention are: to provide synchronizing means that will accurately synchronize the opening of the focal-plane shutter with the flashing of the photoflash lamp; to

' provide means for adjusting the time of the clottion to the reset position, the contacts being shown as held open:

, Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 8--6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section, showing the relation of the synchronizer parts with respect to the mirror frame;

ing of contacts with respect to the mirror travel,

thereby controlling the time of flash with respect to the mirror travel; to provide synchronizing means that cannot inadvertently flash a bulb,

as in resetting the mirror; to provide synchronizing means wholly within the camerahousing and thereby fully protected from all mechanical injury and tampering; and to provide means for synchronizing photoflash lamps with reflecting cameras having focal-plane shutters, the structural parts of such mechanism being of very rugged character and requiring a minimum of adjustment in manufacture. Other objects of the invention will be evident from the following description of one embodiment of the invention.

' single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 8 is a detail in plan view with parts of the camera cut away to show the electrical contacts between the synchronizer, the battery and the photoflash lamp;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through a camera wall showing the relation between the mirror and mirror-release arm;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken through the entire camera but on an irregular line so as to show the parts more plainly, but omitting the lens mounting structure, and corresponds to Fig. 14 of the Petit and Patent 1,980,546; 1 P

Fig. 11 is a'schematib view from the rear of the camera, showing the curtains, curtain rollers and shutter rewind mechanism; 7

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view 01 the shutter rewinding mechanism showing the shutter release lever and the mirror setting lever, which also trips the shutter; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section taken through Fig. 10 on the line ril -i9 thereof, showing the connections .from the mirror setting lever, and corresponds to Fig. 18 oi said Petit and Hineline Patent 1,980,546.

My invention is particularly applicable to refleeting cameras having movable mirrors and particularly to cameras of the single-lens reflecting type, wherein the reflecting mirror causes Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a camera showing one of the camera walls (i. e., a transversely extending inner wall) having the in'vention attached thereto, the parts being in the posi-. tion they occupy when the camera is set in readiness for making an exposure:

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, the exposure button having been released and the mirror traveling in an upward direction, causing the contacts of the synchronizer to be closed:

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar Fig. 1, the mirror having traveled all the way to the top and the synchronizing contacts been opened;

Fig. 4 is a detailin section on oi. use 4-4 ofFig. 3;

1'18. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fit. 1. the mirror traveling in a downward directhe focal-plane shutter to be actuated, and -is more particularly applicable to so-called miniature cameras, as hereinafter set forth. One example of a miniature camera of such type is disclosed in the patent to Petit and Hineline, No.

1,980,546, dated November 18, 1934.

My invention, as will be evident from the following detailed description, is a distinct advance in the art and is an improvement upon the generic invention disclosed in the patent to Torkel Korling, No. 2,029,288, January 28, 1936, and is peculiarly applicable to so-called miniature cameras. 8 57.

a miniature camera.

I have elected toshow my invention as applied to a reflex camera of the Grails: type such as isdlsclosed in the said patent to Petit and Hineline, No. 1,980,546, which discloses only a miniature Hineline those taking pictures smaller than 2% x 3%. Said Korling po nt doesnotdisclose sad camera, and which discloses a roll-film type of camera. The mechanism herein disclosed is peculiarly applicable to a reflex camera of the miniature type for reasons herein subsequently set forth, and the disclosed mechanism is also peculiarly applicable to a roll-film type of camera. Inasmuch as the operation of the shutter by the mirror movement is well known to those familiar with the art, it is unnecessary to describe such part of the mechanism herein otherwise than to state that in usual practice the focal-plane shutter curtains are wound upon rollers against spring tension and the shutter is caused to operate by releasing consecutively the take-up rollers, as shown in said Korling patent.

It will be evident from Fig. l, and other figures of the drawings showing a vertical section through the camera, that the reflecting mirror is caused to travel upward under spring influence, and just before the mirror reaches the end of its travehit contacts with some part, such as a pin, or a system of levers and pins, which in turn release the first curtain roller of the twocurtain focal-plane shutter preferably used in coordination with the mirror-operating mechanism and synchronizing mechanism herein shown.

In all cameras of such general structure, so far as I am aware, the aperture in the curtain is located very near the exposure area, and if a contact were caused to be made by means controlled by the curtain mechanism, the curtain would be well on its way across the exposure area before the photofiash bulb would be ignited, since there is a certain definite delay or time interval or time lag between the time when a circuit is made through the photo-flash lamp and the time when the lamp is actually ignited and resulting illumination is built up to a useable point.

The Korling Patent No, 2,929,238 discloses in Figs. 8 and 1G a focal plane shutter operate-d by upward movement of the mirror frame. may use the mean or other suitable In said Ieorling patent, y be held open while ward mirror the focal-plane shutc the mirror is down, the 11 ng as a shutter and the focal-plane shutt in being a suitable point automatically tripped and closed by upward mirror movement, or the YUCBE1IQ'Q6 be set for exposure desired dL shutter ms ovement of the mirror reieasii the tion, the curtain mechanism after the mirror has moved from the path of incoming rays from the lens.

I may use the I rL--g patent mechansm or other suitable means to operate the focal-plane shutter by mirror movement, so as both to open and to close the focal-plane shutter, or merel to close such shutter. Preferably I use a twocurtain or two=part focal-plane shutter, initiating the movement thereof by upward mirror movement.

My invention constitutes an improvement upon the mechanism disclosed in said Korling patent, in that I have greatly simplified the entire synchronizing mechanism, positioning it wholly within the camera-casing, and so organizing it that no attention need be given by the camera user to the operation oi the synchronizing mechanism, which not only is entirely conceaied within and protected by the camera casing, but is very readily adjustable to vary the exact timing of the fiash with respect to the beginning of the upward mirror movement, thus very accurately synchronizing the opening of the focal plane shutter (whether oi the one-curtain or twocurtain type) with the flashing of the photofiash lamp. To accomplish this result, I cause the contacts to be closed at such time that the flash will begin before the shutter operation or opening begins, and I provide for varying the time interval between commencement of mirror upward movement and the contact closing. As hereinafter set forth in detail, the disclosed construction is such that the synchronizer can be adjusted so that contact takes place when the mirror has traveled only ten degrees in an upward direction, and it can also be adjusted so that contact takes place as late as ten degrees before the mirror reaches the limit of its upward travel to picture-taking position. The disclosed construction permits an adjustment over a range of twenty-five degrees. In any condition of adjustment the contacts are again opened not later than the time the mirror reaches horizontal or picturetaking position.

In accordance with my invention I make use of the delay or time interval or time lag in the movement of the mirror in its travel after it has been released and before it releases the shutter. This short time lag is much greater than any time lag necessary for the proper operation of the fiashlamp in synchronization with the shutter. However, any suitable portion of such time lag can be used, and in the selected embodiment of my invention, I have shown mechanism for properly synchronizing a photofiash lamp with a focal-plane shutter in cameras of the reflex type. r

The camera case is indicated generally at 20. It is provided with a back 2! cover d with leather or other suitable material 22, a front wall 23, a bottom wall, and an end or side wall 25 having the exposure opening. The opposite end or side wall 25a is shown only in Fig. 9. The upper wall of the camera is shown at 28 and the mechanism cover plate at To the said end or side wall is pivoted a mirror frame 28 by a pin 29, s ame carrying suitable mirror, as indicates in dotted lines in Fig. l and in solid lines 7. It is important that there be provi the greatest .aSiblG mirror area, and therefore the 5138.110 9 is placed 'as near the upp wall N 0" To the s 1 opposite sit or end wall 25a is pivoted a mirr release lei shown in Fi 9 and also in dotted mes in rigs. 2 and 5. The said mirror release lever 38 is held to the said camera side 0r end wall 25a by a shoulder rivet 3|, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

The general shape of the camera casing in longitudinally extending transverse or horizontal section is similar to what is shown in Fig. 14 of the said patent to Petit and Hineline, No. 1,980,546, the wall 25, against and onto which the herein after described synchronizer mechanism plate is pivotally mounted in a face-to-face relation, being or corresponding to the transversely extending inner Wall shown near the left hand end in said Fig. 14 of such Petit and Hineline Patent No.

The synchronizer mechanism nerein provided is contained wholly within the camera housing or casing, and inasmuch as synchronizing means cannot effectively be placed directly upon the pin 29, I have, as stated, attached the synchronizer means to-an inner, transversely extending wall of the camera which, in the disclosed construction, is the wall 25, and I produce the peak of the flash coincidentally with the presentation assaaao of an exposure area of the shutter, after its said release, at the exposure aperture of the camera. It will be observed that the contacts 63 and 58a are located at a substantial distance from the pivotal point of the mirror, and yet at the same time there is provided a long movement of the depending arm of the lever 44 to close the contacts. By reason of the disclosed construction, a very much shorter angular movement of the mirror is required to cause the closing of the contacts by movement of the member or lever- 50, followed by the immediate reopening of the contacts after thesaid long arm of the lever 44 has passed off extension 52. It will be seen that I have provided, for inter-engagement with and movement by the mirror frame as it moves upward angular motion multiplying means that engages with the movable member carrying one of the contacts, which angular motion-multiplying means, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, is the synchronizer lever 44.

The said mirror-release lever is caused to turn in a contraclockwise direction by means of a, spring, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2

and 5. The upper end of the said spring 32 is hooked around an angle plate 23, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The said mirror release lever 30 has a right-angled bend in its lower end forming a projection 34, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and which passes through an means of a shoulder screw 42 threaded into a boss 49 riveted to the said mechanism plate 40, is a rocker member or lever Ill. lever 50 is provided with two feet or projections 5|, Iii that engage spring 48, and thus tend to hold the said rocker member or lever I. in the position shown in Fig. 1. Nevertheless the said rocker member or lever 60 may be-turned about the shoulder screw 48 against the tension of the spring 46, but, when released, the said rocker member or lever 50 will always return to the position shown in Fig. 1. One end of the said rockor member or lever 50 has an L-shaped eatension 52 to which is riveted or otherwise secured a contact or terminal 63. The said extension 82 has an additional function to be referred to hereinafter. Herein, because of the position in which the camera is held when the picture is being of the latch plate 35 riding on the projection 34 ofthe mirror-release lever 30. When said lever 20 is caused to move in a clockwise direction, the said projection 34 will leave the latch plate 35 (Fig. 9), thus allowing the mirror frame 28 to swing in an upward direction, as indicated in Fig. 2, from the position indicated in Fig. 1 about its pivot 29 under the influence of a spring 36. The said mirror frame 28 is usually returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 by automatic means when the shutter is operated, but as such means is well known in the art, it needs no further disclosure or description here. However, in some instances, as in the case of the camera shown in the Petit and Hineline Patent No. 1,980,546, the mirror frame 28 or the equivalent thereof is reset manually. The herein disclosed synchronizing mechanism may be attached to such type of camera shown in said patent equally well, and

also to other types of cameras having movable mirror frames.

To the said mirror frame 28 is attached a stud 31 having a reduced end portion 38 and thesaid stud 31 travels with the mirror frame 28, a curved provided with. flats 43 received at or engaging av suitably shaped hole in the camera wall 25, thus preventing the screw 4i from turning when the nut 42 is tightened. Such flat construction also provides a shoulder so that the shoulder screw 4! may be tightened against. the camera wall 25 by the nut 42, andyet allow sufncient looseness so that the mechanism plate may be moved To the camera wall 25 taken, the wall 22 of the casing is defined as the front wall, the wall. 22 as the rear wall andthe rocker member or lever ii! is defined as occupying a horizontal position when the contacts are separated, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

Secured to the synchronizing mechanism plate 40 is an insulating block I54 provided with an L'-shaped or angle portion 4a. The, said insulating block 54 is connected to the said mechanism plate 40 by means or rivets 55, BI, and to the said angle portion 54a of the insulating block 54 is riveted a contact spring 56 having a contact or terminal "a. overlying the contact spring 58 and secured thereto by rivets I1, I! is a connectorstrip ll. The said rivets I1, I! serve to-connect both the contact spring I! and the connector strip 52 to the insulating block 54.

The lower end of the said synchronizer mechanism plate 40 is provided with an out-turned end or flange II having a slot 80 in which is received a pin CI. The lower end of said mechanism plate 421s provided with a shoulder screw 02 extending through the camera wall 2! and provided with a nut 22 on the inner side of the camera wall 28, as shown in Fig. "l. The said nut 43 tightens against the shoulder of the screw 82 with just sumcient pressure to allow the mechanism plate 40 to be moved about the shoulder screw 4| as a pivot, under the influence of pin II. An arcuate slot 64 is provided, so as to allow the shoulder screw 42 to travel in an arc sufiicient to provide the necessary adjustment of the synchronizer mechanism plate 4|. I

The said mechanism plate 40 is caused to be moved in a clockwise or contraclockwise direction about the shoulder screw 4| by any suitable means. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the means provided for the purpose conabout the pivotally acting shoulder screw 4i which 1| sists of the pin Ii engaging as described the slot 40 or the upturned flange IO. The said pin II: is attached to a disk ll carried on a shaft ll in a bearing sleeve 01 constituting part of the bearing bracket ll held to the camera wall II by means of screws 20, II. The said shaft "passes through the bottom camera wall 24 and has at its outer end a dial 14 attached at the outside of said bottom wall 24, so as to be accessible for Said member or lease.

manual operation by the user of the camera. The said dial is is provided with graduations (not shown) so that the synchronizer mechanism plate 49 may be adjusted to any position within the lengthwise limits of the slot by means of the dial H3, and so as to have its position indicated on the outside of the camera by the said graduations. This makes it possible for the operator readily to adjust the synchronizer herein disclosed for use with the type of photofiash bulbs herein disclosed or referred to. The synchronizer lever M is provided with a bifurcated end ii adjacent the shoulder screw 4i, providing a slot 12 in which rides the stud 37. On the opposite end of the synchronizer lever 44 is provided a stud '13, most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows the mirror frame 28 in position for focusing just prior to the making of an exposure. When the operator is ready to make an exposure, the usual camera. release button is pressed, thereby causing the release of mirrorrelease lever 30, which is accordingly then turned in a clockwise direction by means not herein shown but well known in the art, thus withdrawing the bent-over end 34 (Fig. 2) from the mirrorlatch plate 35 (Fig. 9), allowing the mirror 29:: and mirror frame 28 to swing upward on the pivot 29 under the influence of the spring 35. Inasmuch as the stud 3! is attached to the mirror frame 28, the synchronizer lever 24 will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction because of the engagement of stud 3? with the slot 12. As the synchronizer lever Ml rotates in a clockwise olirection, it carries with it the stud I3 (Fig. 2), which overrides the L-shaped extension 52 of the rocker member or lever 50, causing the lat ter to rotate about the shoulder screw 48 against the action of plate spring 4?, closing or briming together the contacts 53 and 58a, as shown in Fig.

it will be evident from the foregoing disclosure that I have provided synchronizer lever o, is pivoted at M which, as shown in laterally beyond the l or and mirror but at a point in front of he inclined plane of the mirror when the mirror is in focusing position, and near a horizontal plane passing transversely through pivotal axis of such mirror, the said synchronizer lever having a short arm extending from its pivot 35 in o interengag ng r.-- iation with the of the mirror and having downwardly extending from its pivot a long arm having a ratio of substantially three to one with the short arm, such long arm being positioned in front of the said inclined plane of the mirror when the latter is in focusing position, the said long arm of the lever M having a stud or'formation to engage the contact-carrying movable member or lever 50 by a swinging movement of the said long arm, which swinging movement is opposite to the direction of upward swing the said mirror and simultaneous therewith. The said long lever arm provides, because of the interengagement oi the short arm with the mirror frame, a substantially greater speed of movement, where it engages and moves the said contactcarrying movable member or lever 50, than the upward speed of the simultaneously moving mirror toward its picture-taking position upon re Therefore, the contacts 53 and 56a are closed at such an early part of the mirror movement time as to cause the flashing of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open.

As the mirror frame 23 continues to move in an upward direction, the synchronizer lever 44 will are closed, a circuit was made between said con tacts and the battery and flashlamp, the circuit of 'which will be later more fully referred to.

Just before the mirror frame 28 reached the position shown in Fig. 8, the shutter of the camera was caused to be released. Therefore, it will be evident that there occurred a considerable time interval between the time of closing the contacts 53 and a and the time when the shutter. was released. The total length of time occurring between the closing of the contacts 53 and 58a and the time the camera shutter is released is controlled by a number of variables, such as the friction occurring at the bearing on pin 29, the strength of the spring 36 and the amount of air resistance to the movement of the mirror frame 28. However, since the synchronizer mechanism plate 40 is made adjustable as herein disclosed, I am therefore by my invention enabled readily to compensate for any such variables, so

that the time lag between the instant of closing the contacts 53 and 56a and the instant that the mirror frame 28 releases the shutter, can be so adjusted that such time lag is equal to the time lag of the flash-bulb or slightly less, so that the flash-bulb will have been ignited prior to curtain opening.

As the mirror-frame 28 is returned to the focusing position, the synchronizer lever M will be caused to be turned in a contraclockwise direction under the influence of the stud 31 in slot and the stud 53 will ride on the underneath side of the L-shaped extension'52 of the rocker member or lever 53, causing said member or lever to be rocked in a clockwise direction against the spring 46 and about the shoulder screw 48, as most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When the mirror frame 23 reaches the all-the-waydown position shown in Fig. l, the stud 13 will have passed beyond the face of the L-shaped extension 52 of the rocker member or lever 50, allowing the said member or lever 50 to be returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, ready for a second exposure.

t will be seen that by the disclosed construction I have provided means whereby the contacts such as 53 and 56a are closed only as the mirror 29a and mirror frame 28 are traveling in an upward direction, viewing Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The said contacts are not closed when the mirror 29a and mirror frame 28 travel in a downward or resetting direction. This is very important, because if such precaution were not taken or provided for, a flash-bulb might inadvertently be flashed, thus causing its loss. The time when contacts 53 and 56a are closed with respect to the position of the mirror frame 28 in its upward travel, is determined by the position of the said synchronizer mechanism plate 48. If said plate 40 were caused to be adjustingly moved in a contraclockwise direction about the shoulder screw H, contact or circuit closing would-take place earlier because the contacts 53 and 56a would be closed at an earlier time. It said synr I 2,865,899 cln'onizer mechanism plate It were adjusted about the shoulder screw II in a clockwise direction, the contacts 53 and 860. would close at a later time, because the synchronizer lever 44 has I to travel a greater distance after the mirror is released before the rocker arm or lever 50 is caused to be thrust downward, closing contacts 53 and 58a.

The position of the said synchronizer mechanism plate 40 is adjusted by means of the disk and sufflcient'capacity for adjustment has been provided to allow for sufllcient lag for any flash bulb now known to me. Within the scope of the invention, I may provide for greater adjustment, as will be readily understood. It will be observed, comparing Fig. 1, showing the mirror in focusing position, Fig. 2, showing the mirror elevated substantially fifteen degrees of the forty-five degrees of movement to horizontal or picture-taking position and showing the contacts 88 and 88a as touching, and Fig. 3, showing the mirror in horizontal or picturetaking position and the contacts separated, that the mirror in moving from its focusing position in Fig. 1 to its picture-taking position in Fig. 3

travels forty-five degrees, and with the adjustment of the synchronizer mechanism plate 48, shown in the several figures, the contacts 53 and 88a meet when the mirror has traveled upward fifteen degrees (i. e., one-third of its upward movement). The adjusting means represented in the drawings, and in accordance with which the synchronizer mechanism plate 40 may be swung, .so that the shoulder screw 82, carried by the mechanism plate lll, may be at either end of the arcuate slot 84, is such that the synchronizer can be adjusted so that contact takes place when the mirror has traveled only ten degrees in an upward direction, and it can also be adjusted so that the contact takes place ten degrees before the mirror reaches the limit of its upward travel to picture taking position. In

other words, inasmuch as the mirror travels at the extremeupper limit of suchtravel, since,

in accordance with my invention, the contacts are again opened not later than the time the mirror reaches horizontal or picture-taking position. Thus there is provided by my invention adjusting means to vary by advancement or by retardation the time of closing the contacts from said half-way point, to eiIect synchronization with the'peak of the flash of the photo-flash lamp, but without thereby preventing the subsequent opening oi' the said contacts by the time the mirror reaches its picture-taking position, and not affecting such openin of such contacts except for such advancement or such retardation thereof as is incidental to the said adjustment of the exact instant of the said closing of the said contacts, but assuring such opening of such contacts by the time the mirror reaches its picture-taking position.

In Fig. 8 is shown attached to the front camera wall 23 a contact member or connector ll into which is connected a detachable plug 18, itself connected to a battery 18. Leading from the said battery is a wire 18 itself connected to one side of a flash-bulb base as of a flash-bulb ll.

A wire 82 is connected to the control contact 0 the flash-bulb fll, and to an insulating plug 83, which is received in'an insulated receptacle having an insulating bushing 84 threaded into the camera front wall 23. In the threaded bushing 8 is placed a sleeve 85 having a projecting member 80' and a hole 81 for connecting 9. prong 88' of the plug 83. Attached to the said projecting member 88 is a wire 89 attached to connector strip 88 by means of a loop 90. The circuit is then completed through the contact 56a, contact 53, arm 50, shoulder screw 48, stud 49, camera wall 25, front camera wall 23, and contact member or connector 18.

The contacts 53 and 560. are open when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, thus interrupting the electrical circuit. If a new flash bulb is inserted, it cannot be ignited until the mirror frame 28 has been reset and again released for a second picture.

So far as I am aware, I am the first to provide a synchronizer in which the photonash lamp can be ignited only during a picture-taking movement of the mechanism, it being, of course, impossible, in the herein disclosed construction, to flash the lamp inadvertently by inserting 'a new bulb in the lamp socket after the picture is made, or during the operation of preparing the camera for the next exposure which includes resetting the mirror.

I am also the first so far as I am aware to complete the circuit during a predetermined part of the movement of the mirror to picture-taking position and for opening said circuit thereafter, but prior to mirror movement back to resetting Position.

In the construction herein disclosed, I have provided means for completing the circuit during movement of the mirror to picture-taking position, and for preventing flashing of an inserted photoflash bulb during return movement of the mirror to resetting position.

It will be observed that the circuit is open' when the parts are in the position'shown, in Figs.

- l, 3 and 5, thus preventing flashing at undue The synchronizer herein disclosed is the prodnot of a great deal of research and experimentawhen the camera is closed and is thoroughly protected. Inasmuch as the synchronizer is always connected to the camera mechanism and therefore functions each time that an exposure is made, whether or not a flash-bulbis connected, no thought or attention of the operator is necessary beyond that involved in the simple act of connecting the battery and flash-lamp to the camera, for once the synchronizer has been adiusted, it will remain adjusted indefinitely and will require no further adjustment or attention from the operator.

While I have herein referred to the Korling Patent No. 2,029,238 as disclosing a generic invention, it is to be understood-that the type of camera disclosed in said Korling patent is entirely diiierent from the type of camera to which my present invention pertains, for the following reasons.

The type of camera disclosed in the said Korling patent and the Korling camera itself take pictures of x 5" size. In all such cameras it requires about one-tenth of a second for the mirror to travel the full distance after being released, whereas in a reflex camera of the'miniature type to which my invention herein disclosed pertains, the total time elapse from the time the mirror is released until it is stopped at picture-taking position is about twenty milliseconds, varying slightly in accordance with the adjustment of the particular camera. For this and other reasons it is impracticable to synchronize the shutter action with a photoflash lamp of the camera such as that shown in the said Korling patent by the use of the mirror thereof, because of the very slow traveling time of the mirror. It is not possible to speed up the mirror action of such a camera because of the jar that is necessarily imparted to the camera when the mirror is stopped at picture-taking position. Moreover, the focal-plane shutter curtain of the camera disclosed in the Korling patent and in other cameras of that size is a comparatively heavy structure and it requires. some little time before it gets under way and before the exposure opening of such shutter curtain reaches the exposure area of the camera. This delay is generally sufdcient to provide time for synchronizing fiashlamps when working with larger shutters, but in cameras of the miniature size or type, as herein disclosed, the parts of the shutter are very much smaller and very much lighter in weight, and the curtain exposure opening is usually positioned relatively closer to the camera exposure area. The consequence therefore is that there is never suificient time elapse from the instant the shutter is released up to the instant the exposure aperture or the curtain reaches the exposure area of the camera, to provide proper synchronization. In working with shutters of cameras of the miniature size, it is necessary to provide a delay greater than the delay which is provided by the run-down of the shutter curtain.

Assuming that the mirror lever P of Korling travels through forty-five degrees, which is the amount of the mirror movement, there could not possibly be provided, in Korling, an adjustment greater than ten degrees, or at the outside fifteen degr es, of the forty-five degrees of mirror movement. Moreover, this would be all. made at the extreme end of the mirror travel in an upward directio In other words, Korli can utmost st his contact so place at not in fore the niirro in an upward h. a. .1. ch 5.- al. at the final would be part way across the exposure area before the flash of the flashlamp could occur. It is essential in a camera of the miniature type that electrical contact be made to the fiashlamp before. the shutter curtain is actually released.

The construction shown by the Korling patent is such that the contacts of Korling are closed not during the first half and more of the upward swinging movement of the mirror, but very near the end of the upward limit of the swinging movement of the mirror even if the contacts shown in Korling be adjusted to the greatest extent posisible to favor early closing of the contacts. The Korling construction is such that even with the utmost adjustment of the contact members or switches, the contact must occur near the upward limit of the movement of the mirror. There would not be suilicient movement of the mirror toward horizontal position left to cause a reopening of the contacts.

I discovered that it is impossible in a miniature camera to use the shutter curtain to cause the contact to effect synchronization with the flash bulb because of. the speed of action of the shutter curtain.

I therefore used the mirror movementun getting the proper time delay from th time the contact was closed to the flashlamp and the time the shutter curtain was itself actually released by the mirror movement.

Referring to the matter of the prevention of contact bounce by my invention-in developing my invention I carefully took into consideration the question of contact bounce and I providedthe construct-ion herein shown consisting of the plate spring 46 and the spaced feet or projections 5i, 5i above and below the pivot 48 of the rocker 46 causes the rocker member 50 to return to neutral position-and not to go beyond that position. being prevented from going beyond that position by the lower foot 5i and the sprlng' plate 45.

When the mirror is reset, the stud '13 on the synchronizer lever 44 passes under the lip or flange or the rocker causing said member to be turned in a clockwise direction about the screw 48 and against the tension of the said spring plate 46, as indicated in Flg. 5. When the said stud 13 clears the lip or flange 52 of the rocker member 50, the stud 13 releases the rocker member 50, which is caused to be turned in a contraclockwise direction by the spring plate it until the neutral position is again reached, as in Fig. 3, and the said rocker member 50 is prerented from bein turned further by the lower foot BI and the spring plate 09. This action is what always occurs in the operation of the mechanism shown.

I have in Figs. 10 to 13 shown certain general features of the camera including the focal plane shutter with its different exposure areas capacity and including means to release the focal plane shutter curtains from closed position.

Referring to said figures, Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through a roll film reflex camera such a shown in Fig. 14 of the said patent to Petit and Hineline 1,980,456. Therefrom has been omitted the lens mounting structure. The mirror is normally spring pressed outward (that is, toward a horizontal or picture-taking position), but as it swings outward the edge of its frame is engaged by an end of the plate hinged at El in the casing and is there provided with a coil spring 52 tending to throw the said plate upward.

In said Fig. 10 the outer curtain rolleris indicated at 9|, the outer curtain roller shaft at 92, the outer curtain at 93 and the inner curtain roller at 94. The inner curtain roller shaft is indicated at 95 and the inner curtain itself at 96. Mounted upon shafts 92 and 95, and also attached to the curtain rollers 9I and 94, are the usual tension springs 91. -Shutter curtain idler rollers are indicated at 98, 99, the inner curtain rewind roller at I00 and the outer curtain rewind roller at IOI.. The spool carrying the unexposed film roll is shown at I09 and the film roll itself at I09, it being, in the loading or film positioning operation, passed about a series of guide rollers IIO, III, H2, H3, H4, and thence to the take-up spool I I4 at the opposite end of the camera casing. In suitable relation to the'film I09, so

as to permit the passing thereof to be observed, is a small red window H5, shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. 11, the outer shutter curtain 93 is provided with extending ribbons I02, I02 and the said inner curtain 96 is provided with similar extending ribbons (not shown) which are back of the ribbons I02, I02 and are attached to the curtain rewind roller I00. The outer curtain 93 is provided with the usual strut or stiffener I03, as is a1so the inner curtain 98. The tension roller 9| is provided'with a shaft I04 and the tension roller 94 is provided with a shaft I05. The rewind roller I00 is provided with a shaft I06 therethrough, and on its upper end it has attached thereto a pinion I01 meshing with a rewind gear I03. The outer curtain rewind roller MI is provided with a shaft I09 and a pinion I I0 meshing with a rewind gear I I I', attached to which isa rewind knob H2. Contained within the rewind knob H2 is a suitable mechanism for changing the relationship of gear III with respect to the immediately co-acting gears so as to cause a change in the position of the pinions I01 and I09 and the outer curtain 93 and inner curtain 93, thus causing a change in aperture between the strut I03 of the outer curtain 93 and the strut I03 of the inner curtain 99. The rewind gear I08 1 provided with a pin III that is engaged by a pawl N4 of a lever III when the shutter curtain structure is in a wound-up condition. The said lever III! is provided with a shutter release leverrlnger II3 positioned in the path of the mirror resetting lever H1. The said mirror reset lever II! is pivoted to the camera side wall 25, shown in Figs. 1, 2. 6 and '7 on a shoulder rivet I I8, and is connected to the mirror 23 by a link H9, one end whereof is attached to the arm I20 of the lever III by a rivet I2I, The upper end of the said link H9 is attached to the stud 39, shown in Figs. 1-, 2, 3, 5 and 6 as attached to the mirror 28, which is pivotally mounted on the pin 29, as already stated. When the mirror 28 is released by the movement of the mirror re- 5 lease lever 30, previously described, the said mirror 28 is caused to be swung in an upward direction, taking with itthe link H9 and the arm I20 of the lever III, causing said lever III to be moved in a clockwise direction, thus contacting with and moving in a right hand direction the said shutter release lever finger IIB, thereby disengaging the pawl I I4 from the pin I I3 and allowing the focal plane shutter curtain to run down. The operation of such shutter curtain is more fully set forth in 'the said patent to Petit and Hineline 1,980,546.

I believe that the construction herein disclosed by me is the first to constitute a synchronizer for miniature reflecting cameras that will function at the several shutter speeds with capacity for adjusting the time delay to accommodate any flash lamp on the market at the time my original application above referred to was filed, and is the first to constitute a synchronizer actuated by mirror movement wherein the electric circuit is automatically opened after being completed- /that is, before or by the time the shutter reaches picture-taking position.

Having thus described one illustrative embodi- 30 ment of the invention, it is to beunderstood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptiv sense and not ,for purposes of limitation, the scope of the in vention being set forth in the followin claims.

I claim: 1. In means. for accurately synchronizing th operation of a focal-plane shutter with the flashing of a photo-flash lamp; a miniature camera of the reflex type having a containing casing adapt- 4 ed to be opened and entirely closed, having a focal-plane shutter with different-exposure-areas capacity, having a pivoted mirror movable from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release the said shutter from 45 closed position by such movement of the mirror; electrically controlled photoflash means including a photoflash lamp and circuit; contacts within sald casing adapted to be closed to flash said lamp; and means entirely within said casing and controlled by mirror movement from focusing position toward picture-taking position to close said contacts at a time to cause said flash to begin before the shutter begins to open; said last mentioned means entirely within the camera casing including a synchronizer mechanism plate 00 adjustably supported within said casing, and on which the contacts are mounted, a synchronizer lever adjacent said plate within said casing and pivoted substantially in advance of the pivotal axis of the mirror, and having an interengaging connectionv with the mirror frame to be moved thereby upon its pivot for moving said contacts into circuit closing position, said synchronizer lever having an angular motion-multiplying arm to engage and move the support for one of said contacts to eil'ect contact closing, a shaft 60 supported within the casing and having an adjusting connection with said plate, said shaft extending through a wall of the casing for exterior manual manipulation, said mechanism I plate being movable by said shaft to vary the time of closing said contacts that is effected through the said movement of said synchronizer lever.

2. In means for accurately synchronizing (I through mirror movement the operation of a miniature, reflex,

focal plane shutter with the flashing of a photo flash lamp; a miniature camera of the reflex type having casing containing the photographically functioning and adapted to be opened and to be entirely closed, said casing having within the same at least one inner wall extending transversely to the pivoted axis of the mirror; said camera having a focal plane shutter with different exposure-areas capacity, and having a mirror frame with mirror pivotally mounted at one side of said inner wall upon an axis normal to said inner wall, so as to be movable from inclined focusing position to horizontal picture-taking position, said mirror frame having a laterally extending projection through said inner wall; said camera having means to release the said shutter from closed position by such movement of the mirror toward picture-taking position; electrically-controlled photofiash means including an electric circuit having therein a photofiash lamp and having contact points within said casing; a synchronizer mechanism plate pivotally mounted near its upper end within the casing on said inner wall at the side thereof opposite said mirror and at a point close to but in advance of the said pivotal axis of said mirror; one of said contact points in said circuit being stationarily mounted on said synchronizer mechanism plate; a synchronizer lever pivoted upon said synchronizer mechanism plate at a point substantially in advance of the plane of the mirror when in focusing position and of the pivotal axis of said mirror and having a short arm extending from its pivot and engaging said lateral projection on the mirror frame extending through said inner wall, so as to be moved by mirror movement to close said contacts during the first half of the mirror movement toward picture-taking position; a rocker member pivotally mounted upon said mechanism plate and carrying the other of said contact points of said electric circuit within said casing; said synchronizer lever having an angular motion-multiplying longer arm and said rocker member having a formation for interengagement and so positioned relative to each other that in the first half of the movement of the mirror from focusing position toward picture-taking position the said rocker member is moved by said synchronizer lever to cause the closing of said contact points and the flashing of the flash lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, and so that during the further movement of said mirror toward picture-taking position the opening of said contact points prior to the arrival of the mirror at picture-taking position may be effected; spring means carried by said mechanism plate in constant engagement with'said rocker member to compel, upon such disengagement of said formations, the return of said rocker mem her to neutral position, so that said contact poin are opened prior to the said arrival of said mirror at picture-talzing position and remain open while said neutral position is maintained, and means extending from sa mechanism plate to the outside of the camera turning said plate upon. pivot to ct synchronising adjustment.

3. Reflex camera synchronisation COZHEJZJI-"J h k-speed camera having a focal plane shut r with different exposureareas capacity and having a mirror movabie through forty-five degrees of movement from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release said shutter from a ciosed posi tion by such movement of the mirror; electrical n its Zy controlled phstofiash means including; a pho toflash lamp and circuit; contacts within the casing of the camera adapted to be closed to flash said lamp; means connected to said mirror and thereby controlled by mirror movement from focusing position toward picture-taking position, so as to close said contacts during the said movement of said mirror to picture-taking position and thereby cause the flash of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, for the purpose of producing the peak of the flash coincidentally with the presentation of an exposure area by said shutter, and to open said contacts not later than the time the mirror reaches the limit of its said travel to picturetaking position; said last mentioned means including a synchronizer lever having an inter engaging connection with the mirror frame to be moved thereby upon its pivot for moving said contacts into circuit closing position, said synchronizer lever having an angular motion-multiplying arm to engage and move the support for one of the said contacts to eifect contact closing; and adjustable means for varying the timing of the said closing of the said contacts so as to effect said closing (according to the setting of said adjustable means) after ten degrees of such movement has occurred, up to ten degrees prior to the arrival of the mirror at its picturetaking position, thereby to allow, in eflecting synchronization, for variable such as differences in shutter action due to changes in the spring tension of the shutter and the time delay in flash bulbs.

4. Reflex camera synchronization comprising a miniature, reflex, high-speed camera having a focal-plane shutter with different exposureareas capacity and having a mirror movable from focusing to picture taking position, and having means to release said shutter from a closed position by such movement of the mirror; electrically-controlled photoflash means including a photofiash lamp and circuit; contacts adapted to be closed to flash said lamp; means connected to the said mirror and thereby controlled by mirror movement from focusing position toward picture-taking position to close said contacts at a point substantially half way in the movement of the mirror from the focusing position to its picture-taking position and thereby cause the flash of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, and to open said contacts not later than the time of arrival of the mirror at its picture-taking position; said last mentioned means including a synchronizer lever having an interengaging connection with the mirror frame to be moved thereby upon its pivot for moving said contacts into circuit closing position, said synchronizer lever having an angular motion-multiplying arm to engage and move the support for one of the said contacts to effect contact closing; and adjusting means to vary by advancement or by retardation the time of closing said contacts from said half way point to effect synchronization with the peak of the flash of said photon-ash lamp, but without thereby prevent g the said subsequent opening of the said cont by the time the mirror reaches its picture" ing position and not affecting such 0 said contacts except for such advanoen or such retardation thereof as is incidental to the adjustment of the exact instant of the said closing of the said contacts, out ch opening of said conreaches its picturea mirror pivotally mounted close to the upper wall of the casing for movement from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release said shutter, for making an exposure, by such movement of the mirror; electrically controlled photoflash means including a photoflash lamp and an electrical circuit having within said casing contacts to be closed to complete the circuit to said lamp; a movable member mounted in said casing at a point relatively remote from the pivot of said mirror and carrying one of said contacts and extending to a point close to the lower edge of the mirror when the latter is in focusing position, so as there to beengaged for movement into contact-closing position, angular motion-multiplying means movably mounted within said casing in advance of the down position of the mirror and of its pivotal axis and moved by movement of the mirror toward picture-taking position and extending close to the said contact-carrying movable member, so as in its angular motion-multiplying movement to engage said contact-carrying movable member, and thereby to close said contacts at such an early part of the mirror movement toward picturetaking position as to cause the flashing of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, thereby producing the peak of the flash coincidentally with the presentation of an exposure area of the shutter, after its said release, at the exposure aperture of the camera.

13. In means for accurately synchronizing the operation of a focal-plane roller-supported shutter with the flashing of a photoflash lamp; a camera of the reflex type having a containing casing adapted to be opened and entirely closed, having a focal-plane roller-supported shutter with different exposure areas capacity, having a mirror movable from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release the said shutter for making an exposure by such movement of the mirror; electrically controlled photoflash means including a photoflash lamp and an electrical circuit; contacts adapted to be closed to complete the circuit to said lamp and angular motion multiplying means controlled by mirror movement from focusing position toward picturetaking position to close said contacts at a time to cause a flash of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, and to open said contacts by continued mirror movement in the same direction not later than the arrival of the mirror at its picture-taking position.

14. In means for accurately synchronizing the operation of a focal-plane roller-supported shutter with the flashing of photoflash lamp; a

camera of the reflex type having a containing casing adapted to be opened and entirely closed, having a focal-plane roller-supported shutter with different exposure areas capacity, having a mirror movable from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release the said shutter for making an exposure by such movement of the mirror; electrically controlled photoflash means including a photoflash lamp and an electrical circuit; contacts adapted to be closed to complete the circuit to said lamp and angular motion multiplying means controlled by mirror movement from focusing position toward picturetaking position to close said contacts at a time to cause a flash of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, thereby producing the peak of the flash coincidentally with the preafter its said release, at the exposure aperture of the camera.

sentation of an exposure area of the said shutter, 16

15. In means for accurately synchronizing the operation of a focal-plane roller-supported shutter with the flashing of a photoflash lamp; a camera of the reflex type having 2. containing casing adapted to be opened and entirely closed, having a focal-plane roller-supported shutter with different exposure areas capacity, having a mirror movable from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release the said shutter for making an exposure by such movement of the mirror; electrically controlled photoflash means including a photoflash lamp and an electrical circuit; contacts adapted to be closed to complete the circuit to said lamp, a movable member carrying one of said contacts, angular motion-multiplying synchronizer means pivotally mounted, distinct from, and substantially in advance of, the pivotal axis of the mirror, said pivotally mounted synchronizer means having one short functioning arm engaging and moved by the mirror frame to cause said contacts to .be closed and then opened by the continued movement of the mirror in the same direction, said pivotally mounted synchronizer means having another and materially longer functioning arm to engage and move said movable contact-carrying member, thereby to effect such closing and such subsequent opening of said contacts, by such angular motionmultiplying movement, the| said specified construction of the co-acting parts causing the said closing of said contacts at a time to cause the flashing of the lamp to begin before the shutter begins to open, thereby producing the peak of the flash coincidentally with the presentation of an exposure area of the said shutter, after its said release, at the exposure aperture of the camera, and to open said contacts by continued mirror movement in the same direction not later than the arrival of the mirror at its picture-taking position.

16. A miniature camera having 5 containing casing to be opened and entirely closed, having a focal plane shutter, having a mirror pivoted close to the upper wall of the casing for swinging upward movement from focusing to picture-taking position, and having means to release the shutter by mirror movement; electrically controlled photoflash means including a photoflash lamp and an electrical circuit having within said casing two contacts to be closed to complete the circuit to said lamp; a pivotally mounted member carrying the upper one of said contacts and when the camera is held in picture-taking position extending horizontally from its pivot from near the front wall of the casing toward the mirror and close to the level of the lower edge thereof when in its focusing position, so as there to be engaged for movement downward into contact-closing position; a synchronizer lever pivoted within said casing laterally beyond the mirror but at a point in front of the inclined plane of the mirror when the latter is in focusing position and near a horizontal plane passing transversely through the pivotal axis of said mirror, said synchronizer lever having a short arm extending from its pivot into interengaging relation with the frame, of the mirror substantially below the pivotal axis of said mirror, and having a long downwardly extending arm positioned in front of the inclined plane of the mirror when the latter is in focusing position, and having a formation to engage said upper contact-carrying pivoted member by a rearward swinging movement of said longer arm,

which movement is opposite in direction to that or the upward swinging of the mirror and simultaneous therewith, said longer lever arm thereby providing materially greater speed of angular movement when engaging said pivoted member than is the upward speed of the simultaneously moving mirror, whereby the said contacts are closed at such early part of the mirrors upward v swinging movement toward picture-taking position as to cause the flashing of the lamp to begin before the Shutter begins to open,and producing the peak of the ilash coincidentally with the presentation of an exposure area of the shutter at the exposure aperture of the camera.

17. A miniature camera in accordance with claim 16, but wherein said camera is provided with an inner wall extending from the rear wall to the front wall of said casing laterally beyond the said mirror, and wherein said synchronizer lever is pivotally mounted upon said inner wall at the face of said inner wall that is the more remote from said mirror and through an opening in which inner wall the said interengagement is effectedbetween the short arm of the synchronizer lever and the mirror frame.

18. A miniature camera in accordance with claim '16, but wherein said pivctally mounted member is provided with spring means to open said contacts and preventing contact bounce, and wherein the specified relative positions of the pivots of the said moving parts and the specified relative lengths of said moving parts effect the disengagement of the said longer arm of the synchronizer lever from said contact-carrying pivoted member' and the opening of the contacts while the said longer arm of the synchronizer lever is still moving in the same direction as when the contacts were caused to be closed and while the mirror is still swinging upward toward picture-taking position.

I LOUIS D. NADEL. 

